Elon Musk scammer convinced woman he was her boyfriend in $26k fraud
FalseElonMusk boyfriend26k/three-month messages. Actual celebrity not offender. Extended messaging alone not explicit continued money requests.
Reported caseData from The GDELT Project · Reviewed and interpreted by RSRC
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Matching coverage over time
The chart uses every search filter above and all matching records, across every results page. The percentage denominator is all included URLs in the same dates, before theme, language, country or text filters.
Distinct included URLs matching these filters in each observation month. Select a point to explore its records. On small screens, scroll the chart horizontally.
A URL counts once per month and can appear in several months or themes. Themes describe the current record assessment; months show URL observations, not when events or each claim first appeared. Warnings, allegations and reported experiences are all included when coded. Partial months, collection gaps and changes in sources affect both measures. A higher share does not establish a higher risk to victims.
Read the graph as a table
| Observation month | Matching URLs | All included URLs | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 591 | 591 | 100.0% |
| Feb 2025 | 1,629 | 1,629 | 100.0% |
| Mar 2025 | 561 | 561 | 100.0% |
| Apr 2025 | 390 | 390 | 100.0% |
| May 2025 | 398 | 398 | 100.0% |
| Jun 2025 | 209 | 209 | 100.0% |
| Jul 2025 | 522 | 522 | 100.0% |
| Aug 2025 | 447 | 447 | 100.0% |
| Sep 2025 | 613 | 613 | 100.0% |
| Oct 2025 | 483 | 483 | 100.0% |
| Nov 2025 | 392 | 392 | 100.0% |
| Dec 2025 | 333 | 333 | 100.0% |
| Jan 2026 | 530 | 530 | 100.0% |
| Feb 2026 | 1,106 | 1,106 | 100.0% |
| Mar 2026 | 360 | 360 | 100.0% |
| Apr 2026 | 491 | 491 | 100.0% |
| May 2026 | 785 | 785 | 100.0% |
| Jun 2026 | 842 | 842 | 100.0% |
| Jul 2026 | 1,143 | 1,143 | 100.0% |
| Aug 2026 | 640 | 640 | 100.0% |
| Sep 2026 | 638 | 638 | 100.0% |
| Oct 2026 | 30 | 30 | 100.0% |
12,949 matching media records
Each record represents a source web page, not a verified incident. Different URLs can describe the same event. About these records.
Consumers warned to watch out for romance fraud
Own source preventive warning/guide or announced activity. Potential harm not actual new target loss; warnings, dates, tips and planned/held events do not establish participation/effectiveness. Specific financial/intimacy/platform methods only coded where own available text states them.
Prevention & supportSNS型ロマンス詐欺事件 1億9971万円被害 広島市の80代男性 広島県内で過去最悪 | 中国新聞デジタル
Hiroshima80male company executive about199715000yen SNS-romance investigation; title-rounded2億/19971precision distinct. Oldcoin investment applies only own157 context. Occupation not employer theft. Police announcement alone does not explicitly state investigation in this short source; fuller counterpart remains separate.
Reported caseArvest Bank warns consumers about romance scam threat - Harrison Daily
Own source preventive warning/guide or announced activity. Potential harm not actual new target loss; warnings, dates, tips and planned/held events do not establish participation/effectiveness. Specific financial/intimacy/platform methods only coded where own available text states them.
Prevention & supportFirst Community Bank warns against potential "love scams" this Valentines Day
Own source preventive warning/guide or announced activity. Potential harm not actual new target loss; warnings, dates, tips and planned/held events do not establish participation/effectiveness. Specific financial/intimacy/platform methods only coded where own available text states them.
Prevention & support羽生結弦さんかたるロマンス詐欺で79万円相当の被害 手数料を要求：朝日新聞
Daisen50female falseYuzuruHanyu790000 electronic-money rights/fee pretext. Noncrypto transfer; actual celebrity not offender.
Reported caseWaspada Penipuan Bermodus Love Scammer Catut Nama Bea Cukai, Begini Cara Mencegahnya
Indonesian BeaCukai false customs romantic confidence62.3mIDR. Customs persona not actual authority or verified asset return.
Reported caseロマンス詐欺で2億円被害か 広島の80代男性、古銭売買の投資に勧誘
Hiroshima80male company executive about199715000yen SNS-romance investigation; title-rounded2億/19971precision distinct. Oldcoin investment applies only own157 context. Occupation not employer theft.
Reported caseNigeria: Again, EFCC Arraigns 11 Chinese Nationals for Alleged Cyber-Terrorism, Internet Fraud in Lagos
EFCC EagleFlush mixed792-suspect crypto-investment/romance operation;11 Chinese arraignments versus29 remanded. December10/19,2024 conflict retained, not each copy a new792 people or guilt.
Reported caseVittima di una truffa sentimentale le spillano 30.000 euro, tre denunciati
Orvieto formal report and police investigation/three denounced people. No money amount in this specific saved context unless title states it; denunciation not arrest/conviction. Police denunciation does not establish victim help-seeking disclosure; detailed investigation coded only where own text says investigative activity.
Reported caseMan pleads not guilty to federal wire fraud
VermontWashingtonCountywoman100000+ federal case/Alabama suspect. Notguilty plea only171;180charge title used separately. Source career-criminal characterization not independently verified.
Reported case169 tiklo sa love scam raid
NBI Makati alleged AI love-hub raid169 versus100+1 supervisor accounts conflict. Apprehension not conviction, forced-work proof or every worker perpetrator. Generic AI presence not synthetic image/video proof. Same-agent source-field check: Generic AI claim is in the description, not the169-arrest title.
Reported caseTruffata sul web dal finto fidanzato e derubata di 30.000 euro | La polizia denuncia 3 persone - Tuttoggi.info
Orvieto formal report and police investigation/three denounced people. No money amount in this specific saved context unless title states it; denunciation not arrest/conviction. Duplicate identical investigation entry removed; source findings and all guards unchanged.
Reported caseHampshire among worst affected areas for dating scams
Source reported dating/romance losses or reports with scoped regional/survey denominators. Average, aggregate, report count, targeting, mean and selected individual example are distinct; no population prevalence or continuous surveillance inferred.
Research & trendsCatfish: Investigation Tactics
MTVJoeyMarissaS8E98 source financial-romantic deception programme description. Episode not heard; broadcasting date not incident date.
Reported caseGeordie Shore's Vicky Pattison takes on romance scammers in new series of BBC Local podcast Love Bombed - Prolific North
BBC LoveBombed third-series true-crime work description, not heard. Betrayal/manipulation and show title do not justify each participant financial loss or all episodes same case.
Related mentionDonna vittima della “truffa sentimentale”, la Polizia denuncia tre persone
Orvieto formal report and police investigation/three denounced people. No money amount in this specific saved context unless title states it; denunciation not arrest/conviction. Police denunciation does not establish victim help-seeking disclosure; detailed investigation coded only where own text says investigative activity.
Reported caseDon’t fall for a romance scam this Valentine’s Day
Own source preventive warning/guide or announced activity. Potential harm not actual new target loss; warnings, dates, tips and planned/held events do not establish participation/effectiveness. Specific financial/intimacy/platform methods only coded where own available text states them.
Prevention & supportTruffe amorose e catfishing abbondano in Italia: vittime di incontri, persi in media 4580 euro - Noi Notizie.
Source reported dating/romance losses or reports with scoped regional/survey denominators. Average, aggregate, report count, targeting, mean and selected individual example are distinct; no population prevalence or continuous surveillance inferred.
Research & trendsOrvieto, donna vittima della 'truffa sentimentale"; polizia dl stato denuncia tre persone | Newtuscia Italia
Orvieto formal report and police investigation/three denounced people. No money amount in this specific saved context unless title states it; denunciation not arrest/conviction.
Reported caseThailand cuts power supplies to Myanmar border towns in effort to curb scam rings
Thailand electricity cut to Myanmar border scam networks; mixed romance/investment/gambling and forced labour counts not all romance. Electricity disruption not rescued every person/ended operations.
Research & trendsScammed, then scammed again: Lehigh County man loses life savings in wire transfer schemes
Lehigh target reports wire scam and romance scam and advocacy. Different deception events not proved same operator; seeking protections not enacted law.
Reported case「宇宙飛行士でNASAから多額の手当」「宇宙にいるので受け取ってくれれば30％あげる」 SNS型ロマンス詐欺か | 西日本新聞me
Nakatsu60female falseastronaut/NASA30percent claim; suspected romance solicitation without completed loss or assured investment. Different from later80female oxygen story.
Reported caseLas Vegas police to help protect community from romance scams
Planned LasVegas police community help announcement and separate82-year-oldBoulderCity example. No inferred participant attendance/effectiveness or absent amount.
Prevention & supportCrypto/Romance Fraud: Court Orders Forfeiture Of $222,729
Court interim forfeiture of222729.86 digital assets in mixed crypto/romance allegation, not money returned to victims or final criminal guilt.
Reported case